Information for parents and carers of children aged 6 months to four years at higher risk of COVID-19
Children with certain health conditions, including those with a weakened immune system, who are aged between 6 months to 11 years on 1 September 2024 (born on or after 2 September 2012 and before 1 March 2024) will be invited for vaccination this winter.
Manx Care will contact you with information about your child’s appointment. Please wait to be contacted.
Why your child is being offered the vaccine
Getting the vaccine will help to protect your child against coronavirus. The vaccine helps to build up immunity to coronavirus, so the body can fight it off more easily. If your child is vaccinated, they are much less likely to get seriously ill from coronavirus or need to go to hospital.
Higher risk of COVID-19
If your child has already received the coronavirus vaccine
Manx Care is offering a coronavirus vaccine to children at higher risk to help protect them from serious illness this winter. It’s important to keep up to date with the COVID-19 vaccines your child is offered.
Manx Care recommends coming forward every time your child is invited to keep their protection topped up.
How the vaccine works
The vaccine helps to build up immunity to COVID-19, so the body can fight it off more easily. It takes around 10 to 14 days for the vaccine to work. The vaccine cannot give your child COVID-19. If your child comes into contact with the infection, the antibodies recognise it and help protect them.
If your child has already had COVID-19
Even if your child has already had COVID-19, they could still get it again. If your child is vaccinated, and they get COVID-19 again, the vaccine will reduce the risk of your child getting seriously ill and having to go to hospital.
Coronavirus vaccine safety
Manx Care will only use a vaccine if it meets the required standards of safety and efficacy. All medicines, including vaccines, are tested for safety and effectiveness before they’re allowed to be used. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) assesses all the data and also ensures a vaccine works and that all the necessary trials and checks have been completed.
Children who should not get the coronavirus vaccine
There are very few people who cannot have the vaccine. If your child has had a confirmed severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any of the vaccine ingredients or a previous dose of the coronavirus vaccine, you should seek advice from your health professional before your child has the vaccine.
The vaccine is not a live vaccine and does not contain any animal products or egg.
